Skyhook brings location to MapQuest, Flickr and Weatherbug websites

Wi-Fi positioning provider Skyhook Wireless today announced at the Where 2.0 Conference the Loki plug-in for Web developers. MapQuest, Flickr and WeatherBug, online leaders in mapping, photo-sharing and weather, have all integrated Loki to auto-locate visitors.

The Loki plug-in works with all major Internet browsers and operating systems to determine the precise location of any Wi-Fi-enabled device instantly, given the user’s permission. This plug-in can be added to any website with just a few lines of JavaScript. It streams location to the consumer instantly without a toolbar, page refresh or browser restart required.

"Allowing any website to easily use precise location to filter content and to present locally relevant advertising has never been possible,” said Ryan Sarver, director of consumer products at Skyhook Wireless. “The Loki plug-in is a powerful new tool for web content that will change how web developers deliver information and applications.”

"By typing in http://www.mapquest.com/findme, users of MapQuest.com can access maps near them and receive faster access to driving directions with pre-populated start locations", said Christian Dwyer, senior vice president and general manager of MapQuest.

Flickr has integrated Loki into both their Map and Geotagging tools as the “Find my location” button. Loki allows them to instantly determine a user’s exact location and show them nearby, interesting photos from the over 500 million geo-tagged photos.

Besides these well known web properties Skyhook Wireless is powering a large number of smaller websites providing services such as local search, social networking or instant messaging.